About this trip

Join Noah Julian and myself this October on a majestic retreat in Iceland. We’ll be taking a tour through the epic landscape, practicing yoga twice daily and soothing ourselves at the end of each day with a long soak in Iceland’s naturally occurring hot springs.

Overview

The Retreat takes place in 2 different locations: Reykjavik and the Whale Fjord. Though it is the country's capital, Reykjavic is far from a whirlwind metropolis: Few skyscrapers grace the skyline, traffic jams are rare and faces are familiar. Yet amidst this tranquil atmosphere, a steady beat of energy and late-night events keep the city alive and pulsing with excitement. Reykjavík is a city of contrasts: it is both cosmopolitan and small-town and also young-at-heart and yet full of history. There are many great monuments, both new and old, that we will visit as we walk the streets and take in all the the city has to offer.

For the second part of the retreat, we will leave the city to stay deep in the countryside, surrounded by nature overlooking the stunning 'Hvalfjordur' ('Whale Fjord'). It is a great place from which to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). From there we'll take several day trip to see that whales and explore Iceland’s numerous waterfalls, glaciers and naturally occurring hot springs!

Finally, before heading back, we'll make one last stop at Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon Hot Springs and spa to luxuriate and unwind before heading home.

Accommodations

The hotel in Reykjavik is one of the great hotels of the country and is part of the Icelandair Hotel family. It's style is cool Scandinavian chic and has amenities that include 24-hour room service, a gym, spa and gourmet restaurant. Light-filled rooms and comfortable beds await you.

Our second location in the countryside has spectacular views over Whale fjord and the surrounding mountains. Each small villa hosts 4 people in 2 bedrooms, with a shared living room and bathroom. They also feature their own natural geothermal hot tubs outside on the veranda. Also offered are executive suites with ensuite bathrooms in the main hotel for those that would prefer a private room. The main hotel has large geothermal outdoor tubs to soak in under the stars.

Dining

The most important ingredient in Icelandic cuisine is location. Iceland is blessed with an abundance of fresh water, clean nature and fertile fishing grounds, while geothermal energy makes it possible to supply a year-round offering of fresh vegetables, grown locally in organic greenhouses.

In the past few years, Iceland has emerged as one of Europe's most dynamic gastronomic destinations, full of exciting places to taste thrilling new recipes. Chefs create modern dishes with traditional ingredients, influenced by the philosophy of the New Nordic Cuisine, where freshness and local seasonal ingredients play a vital role.

Tours and Activities

Iceland is a country of extreme contrasts. Widely known as "The Land of Fire and Ice", it is home to both some of the largest glaciers in Europe, and some of the most active volcanoes in the world. Iceland is also the land of light and darkness, where long summer days of nearly 24-hours of sunlight are offset by short winter days.

The Blue Lagoon Experience

No trip to Iceland is complete without a visit to the Blue Lagoon. Set in the surreal surroundings of an ancient lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula, this geothermal wonder is the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. It features the Lagoon, several saunas, a healthy restaurant and various spa treatment options.

The South Coast Tour

The vast expanse of Iceland’s southern coastal plain boasts an impressive landscape that includes snow-capped glaciers, which meet the sea and some of the country’s most powerful rivers. The first stop is the waterfall Seljalandsfoss, which is set against the backdrop of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. This is followed by the waterfall Skógarfoss and a visit to the Folk Museum at Skógar.

The trip then continues east, past the towering mass of Mýrdalsjökull glacier to Vík, Iceland’s southernmost village. And what better way to round off a busy day than with a seafood banquet at local restaurant Víkurskáli, washed down with beer and Icelandic schnapps–“brennivín”–before returning to Reykjavík.

The Golden Circle Tour

As its title suggests, this comprehensive tour covers all the major attractions of southwest Iceland, beginning with a drive to the national park and former parliament site at Thingvellir and continuing through the mountains to the area around the lake Laugarvatn, known for its high level of seismic activity.

Next stop is Geysir, the world’s most famous hot spring, and Strokkur, its smaller neighbor, which erupts in a spectacular display of blue water every few minutes.

The trip then continues to Gullfoss, the Queen of Icelandic waterfalls, and finishes in Skálholt, a historically significant site dating back to the middle.

Who’s interested

Your Organizer

Incorporating traditional elements of both Astanga and Iyengar yoga, Ari’s classes promote precision and efficiency of movement, and demand a willingness to examine and redefine one’s own habitual movement patterns. Each class makes evident Ari’s passion for physical expression as a gateway to access the innermost aspect of our being. Through the grace of the movements of the physical body, it is his hope that each student can imbue the same sense of grace and peace within. In the spirit of old hermetic adage: As above, so below; as within, so without.
http://www.yogawithari.com/